Scott Brinkley (SB):I used to look up to my uncle as a kid. He was like agod to me. And when he quit drawing to play guitar Igot mad and decided I was gonna be a better pencilerthan he ever was. So we're talking like 5 or 6 is whenI started. Back then drawing was a kind of therapy forme. It helped me to keep my head while my worldcollapsed during my parents divorce. I had a habit offinding strange things about my friends and somehowincorporating that into a super power so I couldcreate a character for them.

C2F:What is your background in art?

SB:Is this the part where I list: Drawing 1 and 2, Art 1and 2, Editorial cartoonist for highschool newspaper,editorial cartoonist for military base newspaper,CorelDraw 5 in the graphics department while in theAir Force, Paint Shop Pro 5, 6, and 7 during the chatprogram days, and photoshop 5 and 7.

Beyond that I used to do the advertising for myEpiscopal Youthgroup when we did fundraisers tosupport mission trips. As a thank you to the group Ialso tended to give them silk screen airbrushed shirtspertaining to the specific trips we went on.

C2F:What tools do you use?

SB:Originally I was the type to use whatever I could getmy hands on. After many interesting conversations withBiohaz Daddy,as well as others.... I go with a basicsoft cheapo pencil for my layouts and diagrams. A .5mmmechanical pencil, 1.1mm felt tip ink pen, 11 x 8 anda half sketch diary, a FAT eraser, about a minimum of3 comic books opened at one time for variousreferences (or for general motivation), an exactoknife and some india ink for those super fine lines,my trusty scanner, Wacom 4 x 5 tablet, photoshop 7,and a tutorial here and there.

The one I absolutely can't stand is a kneading eraser.I hate those with a passion.

C2F:How do you move a drawing to a digital image?

SB:Sometimes it's an idea that catches fire when I amnowhere near paper. Other times, it's staring at ablank page and "seeing" something there. Mostly thoafter I draw out the diagram and lay out what I want,I do a quick sketch of detail. And then I'll move onto doing the fine detail. The inking part I prefer todo by hand. It feels like I've accomplished more thatway. After that, I'll scan it into the computer, andgo to levels to make the inks look "not so faded" andthe whites whiter to kill all the pencil lines thatthe eraser didn't get underneath. Lately I've taken aninterest in coloring my stuff andWinterhawk'stutorialhas been a huge springboard in thatdirection. I would also like to thankBiohaz Daddyhere. He's been a bit of a drill sergeant constantlychewing for more shadows or more light every time Ishow him a piece I'm in the middle of.

C2F:Though primarily a penciller, you've done a fewmanips as well. Do you have any thoughts as to how thetwo media compare? Do you plan on trying your hand atmanips again?

SB:I tried manipping at the beginning after finding C2Fand HM. The things I saw were amazing and I wanted tosee how it was done and if I could do it. Incomparison I'd say that manipping or anything done onthe computer is just another step up in art. I likebeing able to start with the basics and then adding toit on the computer.

As for manipping again. Anything's possible. I saw awork in progress thatBill Turnerdid of Spiderman ona roof top. It looked like he used basic Poser modelsand then painted over them instead of using all theextras and making a Poser Spiderman. Being theinterview guy at heromorph, some of the artists havementioned programs that have caught my interest.Programs like Poser, Bryce, and 3DSMax. The latest toblow my mind is Z Brush. So basically I guess I'msaying that I'll probably get back into manipping, butit'd be more like manipping a drawing.

C2F:What's your favourite of your own work?

SB:I'd have to say Rogueat this point. I started with areference of Andromeda from Ascension comics and whenI got to the face, the entire drawing took a completeU turn. Everytime I look at that face I drew, I'mstill stunned because my faces usually come out likethe Jean Greydrawing I did.

C2F:How about your least favourite?

SB:I don't know if it's on the internet anymore. But Ihad a manip of an original character named Arcana. Iwas going for a purple metal. In which case I wasbiting off way more than I could chew. Not to mentionI had lost my grandfather at the time, but promised tofinish it. I did, but half heartedly.

C2F:What image or images would you consider yourturning point(s) as an artist?

SB:The Keneticmanip was a bit of a turning point. Itproved I could do it. There's alsoAndromeda. That wasthe first time I decided to break my long held rule ofnever drawing "fan art". You could throwZealot inthere as well, considering that's the image I startedwith learning coloring in photoshop.

SB:The biggest one? Everyone knows I have a problem withhands. Beyond that, ANYTHING that keeps people frominstantly thinking the name Liefield when they look atmy art. Yes in the 90's he was one of my favorites.But nowadays I've learned a major dislike for him.

SB:I'm probably driving people nuts withX-menand WildC.A.T.sso every so often I drop an oddball likeNexus.I have no clue what's going to come out next,but I've got a collaboration with Bio on a MedievalSpawn/Witchblade/Darkness to get crackin' on.

C2F:Do you have any advice for aspiring artists?

SB:Be a sponge? Use everything. Sometimes I've foundmyself drawing with a muscle and fitness magazine infront of me. Sometimes it's an anatomy book. I've evenlooked at DaVinci for help.

C2F:Finally, as an artist who primarily posts atHeromorph, do you have any thoughts on how C2F and HMcompare? What similarities and differences have younoticed between the two sites?

SB:That's a bit of a hard question. When I first stumbledupon both C2F and HM. I spent a couple months diggingthru the forums. Kind of getting a feel for thepersonality of the sites in general. Both are verywelcoming. I think it works like this. When I posthere and it gets reviewed, there's no beating aroundthe bush. Crushed or excited, I can find out where Istand in skills and what I need to seriously work on.HM suits my personality.